Federal agency issues another bad burger alert

Frozen burger patties were sold by Canada Safeway Ltd.

NUNATSIAQ NEWS

These frozen burger patties are among five brands now being recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Canada Safeway Limited are warning the public not to eat frozen hamburgers from Gourmet Meat Shoppe and Butcher’s Cut brands of frozen beef burgers because these products may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

These products have been distributed in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

Canada Safeway Ltd. is voluntarily recalling the affected products.

While the recalled products may not be on the shelves in Nunavut, some residents may have ordered these products or purchased them while outside the territory.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall, which it said is the result of E. coli testing related to an ongoing outbreak investigation.

Food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell spoiled. But eating food contaminated with these bacteria may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers: